AROUND THE WORLD

Detainees face new U.S. charges

February 04, 2007|By Items compiled from Tribune news services.

CUBA — The U.S. military prepared new charges Friday against three of the best-known detainees at Guantanamo Bay--a key step toward resuming the military tribunals for terrorism suspects that were halted by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

Authorities drafted new charges--including murder, conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism--against Canadian Omar Khadr, Australian David Hicks and Salim Ahmed Hamdan of Yemen, said Air Force Col. Morris Davis, chief prosecutor in the Guantanamo war crimes trials.

Under military rules, the charges are not considered formally filed against the detainees until they are approved by a U.S. Defense Department legal adviser and another official who oversees the tribunals.

That process is expected to take two weeks, Davis said. Court hearings are not expected to begin at Guantanamo until at least the spring.